CBD: National Environmental Policy Act; NASA Ames Development Plan

[Federal Register: November 21, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 225)]

[Notices]

[Page 58526-58528]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21no01-147]

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice (01-150)]

National Environmental Policy Act; NASA Ames Development Plan

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) for the NASA Ames Development Plan and notice of
meeting.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural
Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) policy and procedures (14
CFR part 1216 subpart 1216.3), NASA has prepared, and is requesting
comment on, a DEIS for the proposed NASA Ames Development Plan (NADP).
In the NADP, NASA is proposing to develop a world-class, shared-use
education, research and development campus at Ames Research Center
(ARC) Santa Clara County, California. The proposed shared use campus,
which would include the proposed NASA Research Park (NRP), will be
focused on astrobiology, life sciences, space sciences, nanotechnology,
biotechnology, information technology and aeronautics. As part of the
NADP, NASA officials plan to create partnerships with Federal, State
and local government agencies, universities, private industry and non-
profit organizations in support of NASA’s mission to conduct research
and develop new technologies. The purpose of the DEIS is to assess the
environmental consequences associated with development alternatives
under the proposed NADP and the no-action alternative. Implementation
of the preferred alternative is expected to result in significant
environmental impacts in the following areas: traffic, air quality, and
housing supply.

The DEIS also includes, in its appendixes, the General Conformity
Determination for Carbon Monoxide prepared pursuant to the Clean Air
Act,

the Biological Assessment prepared pursuant to the Endangered Species
Act, and the Historic Resources Protection Plan and Programmatic
Agreement prepared in compliance with the National Historic
Preservation Act. NASA is also requesting comments on these documents.

DATES: The agency must receive written or electronic mail comments on
the DEIS and the other documents listed on or before January 14, 2002
or 50 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register of the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s notice of availability of the
NADP DEIS, whichever is later. Public meetings to receive comments on
the DEIS will be held in the vicinity of NASA Ames Research Center
during December 2001. The specific times and locations will be
published in the San Jose Mercury News (http://www.mercurycenter.com)
and La Oferta Review (http://www.laoferta.com).

ADDRESSES: The DEIS can be reviewed at the following locations:

1. Mountain View Public Library, Reference Section, 585 Franklin
Street, Mountain View, CA (650-903-6887).

2. Sunnyvale Public Library, Reference Section, 665 West Olive
Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA (650-730-7300).

3. NASA Headquarters, Library, Room lJ20, 300 E Street SW,
Washington, DC 20546 (202-358-0167).

4. Access electronically at http://researchpark.arc.nasa.gov.

Limited copies of the DEIS are available, on a first request basis,
by contacting Ms. Sandy Olliges, NASA, Ames Research Center, M.S. 218-
1/Building 218, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000; telephone 650-604-3355;
electronic mail (solliges@arc.nasa.gov).
Submit all comments in writing to Ms. Sandy Olliges, NASA Ames
Research Center, Environmental Services Office, Mail Stop 218-1,
Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000 or electronically to
researchpark@arc.nasa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sandy Olliges, NASA, Ames Research
Center, M.S. 218-1/ Building 218, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000;
telephone 650-604-3355; electronic mail (solliges@arc.nasa.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1991, the Federal Base Closure and
Realignment Commission decided to close Moffett Field Naval Air
Station. Subsequently, the U.S. Department of Defense transferred
stewardship of the property to NASA. NASA took over administration of
752 hectares (1,857 acres) of Moffett Field in 1994. The immediate
issues were how to use the newly acquired land in a manner consistent
with NASA’s mission, and how to pay for the maintenance and operations
of such a large site. These matters were originally addressed in the
Moffett Field Comprehensive Use Plan (CUP) and its associated
Environmental Assessment (EA), which resulted in a Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) in 1994. After transfer of the property,
local community leaders formed a Community Action Committee (CAC) and
recommended uses for the newly acquired land. The uses proposed in the
NADP are consistent with the CAC recommendations.

In addition to the activities described in the CUP, NASA now
proposes to develop the NRP and other areas by building on the full
range of existing high-technology and aviation resources at Moffett
Field and creating partnerships with Federal, State, and local
governmental agencies, universities, private industry and non-profit
organizations in support of NASA’s mission to develop new technologies.
With the help of these collaborative organizations and consistent with
its mission, NASA proposes to develop a world-class, shared-use
educational and research and development (R&D) campus focused on the
advancement of human knowledge about nanotechnology, information
technology, biotechnology, astrobiology, life sciences, space sciences
and aeronautics. By integrating public and private R&D efforts at the
NRP, NASA would create a hub for technology transfer, stay abreast of
cutting-edge technology advances, and facilitate the commercial
applications of NASA’s basic scientific research.

Alternatives for the development at ARC in the DEIS include:
Alternative 1: The No Action Alternative. Under the No Action
Alternative, NASA would not propose new development for ARC at this
time. However, NASA would implement several projects at ARC that are
already approved pursuant to the NASA ARC Comprehensive Use Plan
Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI), and the California Air National Guard Master Plan EA and
FONSI.

Alternative 2: In Alternative 2, NASA proposes to develop
approximately 360,000 square meters (3.9 million square feet) of new
space overall in the following development areas: NRP (located to the
south of the present Ames Campus), Bay View (located to the north of
the Ames Campus), and the Eastside/Airfield areas (located along the
east side of the Bay View, Ames Campus, and NRP areas). Within the NRP
area, there would be approximately 190,000 square meters (2 million
square feet) of new educational, office, research and development,
museum, conference center, housing and retail development.
Approximately 52,000 square meters (560,000 square feet) of existing
non-historic structures would be demolished, and approximately 46,000
square meters (500,000 square feet) of existing space would be
renovated. In this alternative, NASA proposes approximately 121,000
square meters (1.3 million square feet) of new educational and housing
development in the Bay View area, and approximately 51,000 square
meters (550,000 square feet) of new low density research and
development and light industrial space. Hangars 2 and 3 in the
Eastside/Airfield area would be renovated. Total build out under this
alternative would be approximately 845,000 square meters (9.1 million
square feet).

Alternative 3: Based on the ideas of Traditional Neighborhood
Design, NASA, in Alternative 3, would create a new mixed-use
development within the NRP. In this alternative, NASA proposes: (1) The
addition of approximately 280,000 square meters, (3 million square
feet) of new educational, office, research and development, museum,
conference center, housing and retail development, (2) the demolition
of approximately 52,000 square meters (560,000 square feet) of non-
historic structures, and 3) the renovation of approximately 46,000
square meters (500,000 square feet) of existing space. NASA does not
propose any new construction in the Bay View or Eastside/Airfield
areas, although Hangars 2 and 3 in the Eastside/Airfield area would be
renovated for low-intensity research and development or light
industrial uses. The total build out under Alternative 3 would be
approximately 760,000 square meters (8.2 million square feet).

Alternative 4: In Alternative 4, NASA would concentrate more of the
new development in the Bay View area than it would in the other
alternatives, while creating less dense development in the NRP area. In
Alternative 4, NASA proposes: (1) The addition of approximately 145,000
square meters (1.6 million square feet) of new educational office,
research and development, museum, conference center, housing and retail
space in the NRP area, (2) the demolition of approximately 52,000
square meters (560,000 square feet) of non-historic structures and (3)
the renovation of

approximately 46,000 square meters (500,000 square feet) of existing
space. In the Bay View area, NASA proposes approximately 251,000 square
meters (2.7 million square feet) of new office, research and
development, laboratory, educational, and student/faculty housing
development. In the Eastside/Airfield area, NASA proposes (1) The
creation of approximately 62,000 square meters (670,000 square feet) of
new light industrial, research and development, office and educational
facility development, and (2) renovation of the historic hangars. The
total build out under Alternative 4 would be approximately 940,000
square meters (10.1 million square feet).

Alternative 5: The Preferred Alternative. Under Alternative 5, NASA
would allow some new construction in each of the four development
areas, but would concentrate most of this construction in the NRP area.
In this alternative, NASA proposes: (1) The addition of approximately
192,000 square meters (2 million square feet) of new educational,
office, research and development, museum, conference center, housing
and retail space in the NRP Area, (2) the demolition of approximately
52,000 square meters (560,000 square feet) of non-historic structures,
and (3) the renovation of approximately 56,000 square meters (600,000
square feet) of existing space. In the Bay View area, NASA proposes the
addition of approximately 93,000 square meters (1 million square feet)
of new development, primarily for housing. In the Eastside/Airfield
area, NASA proposes the construction of approximately 1,115 square
meters (12,000 square feet) of new space in a new control tower.
Finally, in the Ames Campus area, NASA proposes to demolish
approximately 37,000 square meters (400,000 square feet) of existing
buildings to make way for 46,000 square meters (500,000 square feet) of
high density office and research and development space. Total build out
under Alternative 5 would be approximately 780,000 square meters (8.4
million square feet).

NASA has selected Alternative Five as the Preferred Alternative.
The Preferred Alternative has been identified as the option that best
meets NASA’s purpose and need.

The DEIS also includes the General Conformity Determination for
Carbon Monoxide as an appendix since implementing alternatives 2
through 5 would generate more than 100 tons per year of carbon
monoxide, a pollutant regulated in the San Francisco Bay Area under the
California State Implementation Plan. Ozone and its precursors
(reactive organic gases and nitrogen oxides) are also regulated, but
none of the alternatives would generate more than de minimus amounts of
these pollutants. Although more than 100 tons per year of carbon
monoxide would be generated by the preferred alternative, no violation
of National Ambient Air Quality Standards is expected.

Pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, NASA has
initiated consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service, and has prepared a Biological Assessment to describe the
effects of the proposed action on the federally listed species at the
site. No adverse effect is expected from implementation of any of the
alternatives. The Biological Assessment is an appendix to the DEIS.

Since proposed removal of non-historic structures, construction of
new buildings, and rehabilitation of historic structures in
Alternatives 1 through 5 have the potential to disturb the integrity of
the Shenandoah Plaza Historic District and contributing elements in the
NRP if not designed carefully to ensure the compatibility of the
changes with historic architecture, NASA, pursuant to the National
Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), has prepared a Historic Resources
Protection Plan (HRPP) for the Shenandoah Plaza Historic District. NASA
has also prepared a Programmatic Agreement (PA) with the Advisory
Council on Historic Preservation and the California State Historic
Preservation Officer to adopt and implement the HRPP. No adverse effect
is expected from implementation of Alternative 5, the preferred
alternative. The HRPP and PA are an appendix of the DEIS.

Jeffrey E. Sutton,
Associate Administrator for Management Systems.